WJPA Sports

West Covina, CA claimed the final berth in this year’s Printscape PONY League World Series, the crowning piece of PONY Baseball’s 75th Anniversary celebration. The three-time championship program is returning to the World Series for the first time since 2000. The West Zone champions join Hagerstown, MD (East), Bay County, MI (North) and Hidalgo, TX (South) as US zone qualifiers. South Hills and Washington County round out the domestic field with international squads coming from Taichung City (Taiwan), Navojoa (Mexico), Paderborn (Germany) and Guaynabo (Puerto Rico). Action in the 10-team bracket begins Friday afternoon when Hidalgo takes on Paderborn. Bay County and Guaynabo wrap up the opening-day doubleheader. Hear every game of the 2026 Printscape PONY League World Series on WJPA-AM (1450) and online.

CINCINNATI (AP) — Chase Burns won his 12th straight decision and Sal Stewart hit his 24th home run as the Cincinnati Reds beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 10-2. Stewart tied Joey Votto for second-most homers by a Reds rookie. Votto hit 24 in 2008. Frank Robinson holds the franchise’s rookie mark with 38 homers in 1956. Burns (13-1) is the first Reds pitcher to win 12 straight decisions since Brooks Lawrence won 13 straight in 1956. Burns allowed one run on two hits with two walks and nine strikeouts in six innings and lowered his ERA to 2.35. Pirates starter Mitch Keller (6-8) allowed seven earned runs and walked four in two innings.

Two-time Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal is on the move to the Los Angeles Dodgers, giving the two-time defending champions even more talent on a loaded roster. Right-hander Freddy Peralta is switching teams, too, as the Tampa Bay Rays beef up their rotation. Major League Baseball’s trade deadline is Monday at 6 p.m. EDT and two of the biggest prizes are already off the board. But other enticing options still remain, including Padres closer Mason Miller, Giants second baseman Luis Arraez and Blue Jays outfielder Daulton Varsho.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy is bringing a different mindset to his first training camp in Pittsburgh. McCarthy is banning tackling during practice, a marked departure from former Steelers coach Mike Tomlin. McCarthy says the decision is about minimizing injury risk, adding that his philosophy has evolved in lockstep with changes in the NFL over the years. McCarthy believes in refining tackling techniques without full contact, using tools like GPS and video analysis to help players learn how to tackle the right way. The players say they’re on board with the decision, adding they can still be physical without taking each other to the ground.